Tuesday, 7 September 2021

Why Giving To The One Love Table Is A Unique Choice?

 Why Giving To The One Love Table Is A Unique Choice?

Written by Habeeb Alli and Edited by Juliane Martin


Because feeding people is always rewarding in all religious denominations.

Well that was the easy one liner.

But there are so many causes and people operating food banks are numerous especially during Covid.

Well to think of it being part of a family of people of all backgrounds that are informed by faith and love

and dignity is itself very ambitious given the times we live in.

Whenever we find such a community based upon these eternal values of the Golden Rule we must be

able to jump at it with our hearts, dollars and time!

When we started out One Love Gala it was because the then government of the day did not want the

continuation of Chaplaincy services for inmates locked up in federal prisons across Canada. They were

about to sever the important work diversity chaplains perform inside and outside prisons.

I was inspired by Bob Marley’s’ song One Love, One Heart to start advocating for this service by

highlighting the work Chaplains do to reintegrate inmates successfully into society..

Food insecurity is a rising concern in Canada during the Pandemic and around the world. No one is safe.

There is only One God and His Religion Is to take care of humanity.

I have been working with many Muslim organisations and participating in many Interfaith initiatives and

saw during my time at providing food hampers in Toronto to families affected during the Pandemic that

all walks of life were involved. The Hindu Pundit giving donations, the Rabbi picking up food at the drive

by, the Pastor delivering food hampers to the elderly and the Imam opening the mosque doors for

persons of all backgrounds to receive the Mercy of God through human servants.

Now that I have had the opportunity to do the food hampers differently, again the One Love song has

inspired me to have the fabric of Interfaith and Multiculturalism sew itself into this beautiful dress with

our amazing Christian Chaplain Julianne Martin as Director and the humanitarian Muslim leader Sadro

Usman leading the operations whilst the Hindu community activist Rajmini Ram renders her continued

support and the Jewish voice for the voiceless Orev Katz prods us on- the family of One Love is woven

from the threads of far and wide of volunteers, clients and donors of varied ethnicity, race, religion,

sexual orientation, nationality and languages because the human dignity of one is the dignity of all. We

are all the Children of Adam!

As in the case of Father Abraham he was the patriarch to all, he loved all and opened his dinner table for

all and as such when you give to the One Love Table you give to all- without judgment or need to prove

you are worthy- you are doing the work of the Prophets when you let people enter your space freely as

Rumi said: Come As You Are!

Thank you!

Megwich!

Merci

Thursday, 6 May 2021

Lailatul Qadr and Mothers’ Day - Twin Sisters of Mercy

 


Lailatul Qadr and Mothers’ Day - Twin Sisters of Mercy

 

May 4th 2021

 

by: Habeeb Alli

 

It's been a whirlwind of events during this Pandemic.

 

It's Ramadan and Muslims are going crazy about the search for the Night that equals a thousand months of worship. And rightly so, it's also that time of the year when we buy flowers and send gifts to our mothers. Mother's Day – both days falling on May 8th and 9th, respectively.

 

I wonder if there is a connection between the Night of Power and Mothers' Day?

 

For this, I thought there is a silver lining like the vaccine during the Pandemic.

 

For the reader of this, the Night of Power in the Surah "Qadr" Quran Chapter 97 Verses 1-5 is the moment that God decrees one's life for the rest of the year and it is believed to be on the 27th night of Ramadan. However, it can be any time in the year or any one of the 10 last nights of Ramadan.   When people, who were eager to get rich in the game of spirituality, complained to the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, (On Whom Be Peace) that their years are shortened compared to those who lived for centuries before, in response, the Chapter Qadr was revealed. It is an auspicious night of prayers called the Night of Determination, or the Night of Power which is equivalent to one thousand months (which is equivalent to 80 years) of blessings.

 

It seems to me that the Mother of the Believers, Aisha, may (God be pleased with her), actually questioned her husband, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, on whom be peace, what should be her prayers if she finds out it is indeed the Night! Our Prophet, opined that appealing for God's kindness and forgiveness was most crucial. "Oh God, You Are Forgiving and Kind, You Love to Forgive, so kindly forgive me!" is the refrain that is uttered all around the globe on this special night.

 

Now if that wasn't an appeal to the motherly instincts of compassion, forgiveness and love, then what is? God chose the Mother of the Believers, the young and passionate Lady Aisha, may God be pleased with her, to reveal this priceless gem of worship, embraced by billions throughout the centuries.

 

When we celebrate and honor our mothers every day and with a grand remembrance on Mothers' Day, we are instinctively responding to their kindness, generosity and unconditional love for their children. This is their right upon us, so beautifully articulated by the Holy Prophet, on whom be peace, that Paradise lies "at the feet of Thy mother!"

 

So, this weekend, when you are praying for forgiveness on Lailatul Qadr and buying flowers for your beautiful Mom, or saying a prayer for her, alive or deceased, remember that mercy is the common denominator here. God's mercy demonstrated in a mother's love - something further demonstrated by your continued support of the Table of Mercy Foodbank this Ramadan which has served hundreds of mothers and families and prayed with them during this Pandemic. The Twin Sisters of Mercy seems to descend on us this weekend. Let's take the opportunity to be part of the mercy this year!




Sunday, 4 August 2019

Arif and Samantha: Love in the Six

Arif and Samatha
The unspoken love
Between Arif and Sam
That be-squeak the passion of a Rapturous fan!

That union of two hearts
That joined West Coast Demerara with Skeldon
It is the quietness of Arif
The energy of Sam

When placed on the altar of God's blessings
Make the love story of Ali and Fatima alive
So many want to renew their vows
So many in the house that I joined their hands

They look so beautiful today
Wishing to renew their vows
Inspired by Arif and Sam
So let this love be eternal love

For we will not hear
With death do you part
However, we will hear the angels sing
In heaven will see you dance!

Khan and Dookhoo families
At the hallmark of cultures
Are bonded by our ancestral roots
And from today onward

We know this will be quite a party
For, by God, love knows no barriers nor timings
Love is love
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Khan!






Sunday, 28 July 2019

Eid by the Lake media release 2019



Media Release                                                          Dated: 2019-07/27

One Love Media and Friends Indeed Canada present the 4TH Eid-by-the- Lake Festival in the Durham Region.

Eid by the Lake: The Sacrifice

The One Love media group and Friends Indeed Canada continue to promote positive and inclusive events in the Muslim community, collaborating with interfaith leaders and community organizations to provide inspirational messaging in the Greater Toronto area.

It is the fourth Annual Eid-by-the-Lake celebration for Eid ul Adha. Muslims around the world celebrate this festival during the pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Eid-by-the-Lake festival will be commemorated at the Abilities Centre, 56 Gordon Street, Whitby, Ontario, on Sunday Aug 11th from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. with the Honorable MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes, once again and the executive member of the interfaith body, the Abraham Festival, Helen Thibert from Peterborough, Ontario.

Founded by the Patriarch of three Abrahamic Faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, the Hajj brings Muslims from all backgrounds internationally together. The Eid-by-the-Lake festival includes speeches, prayers, food, fun, musical performances, Interfaith messages and lots of time to socialise with family, neighbours and friends.

A number of Interfaith leaders as well as entertainers are in the line-up.
Awards Presentations include: the Hodan Nalayeh award for empowering girls in Africa and the nominee this year is Sauliha Alli for volunteering in Ghana.

The bazaar will include food vendors and other services in the Durham Region.
The charity of choice this year is "Service to Humanity" for their back to school program for the children in Guyana, South America.

Our main sponsor is the oldest Muslim charity in Canada Human Concern International serving Qurbani in thirty countries.

The Co-Chairs are Vaqar Raees and Anela Jadunandan.

This event is free and open to all.

Contact Habeeb at 416 823 1738 or bookhabeeb@gmail.com

Friday, 26 July 2019

Tribute to Hodan Nalayeh


Tribute to Hodan Nalayeh
#BeAWoman (was her buzzword)


Too soon oh peace warrior!
Too early oh Oprah of Africa!
Oh Princess of Black Panther
Your beauty exudes musk of Arabia!

Shot whilst shooting stories of their mothers
They thought they could out your light with their barrels of extremism
They even ask one sister to go home back
But the world celebrates your hijabiness, femaleness, Somaliness, Muslimness

We have worked together on the free Black Panther show
Children needed to see a black actress on the screen too
We have worked together on the youths in prison
We awarded you at the One Love Gala our mother’s Lyla Ali award

Because that is what we should do for our daughters of this Ummah
They deserve more for their humanitarian work without rewards
Burnt in the harsh sun of Africa
We will share your legacy to empower girls across the globe

One #NaagIskoDhig at a time!
God rest your beautiful soul and that of your loved ones!
Gone with the winds
But not forgotten!